Whether you are a nefarious one-eyed pirate or just a lazy beach bum, the Cheeca Lodge & Spa resort will make you weep and rethink your “dark side” and make you want to repent.This tropical treasure with its turquoise sea and laid- back, unhurried island atmosphere is the perfect setting to get your groove back on baby!

Sorry “Rasta Steve,” I know that you are highly regarded for your water rituals and healing powers down there in Jamaica ” mon” but I think that you have met your match here with all the folks working the spa! They may not have that infectious gift of gab that comes so naturally to you, but they sure do make up for it with their lavish spa accoutrements. R & R are branded in their DNA and they will see to it that you get it even if they have to ram it down your throat! Heh! I’m not complaining!

Massages, facials, and aromatherapy are but a few that are in store for you…….and don’t even get me started with that cabana boy who is always ready to indulge you with some ” banana boat” action! O mg! I suddenly have this weird notion of Barry Manilow serenading me with “Copacabana,” Euuuuuw! What would probably be worse than hearing him sing this song, is him wearing a speedo and gyrating! Euuuw! Sorry Barry man!!!!

Ahhhh! this is the life, I tell ya, this is where I could close my eyes and open wide……open up my mouth that is, and eat all the conch fritters that I could possibly eat, afterall, this place is conch central. The freshly prepared seafood is part of the allure that the Cheeca has to offer, and trust me, ( if you know the types of dishes I prepare), then you know mystery meat ain’t going to cut it here either!

So people, if ever you have the opportunity to go down to Islamorada, go and visit the Cheeca, you will be transformed into someone beautiful!

BTW, it was terribly chilly for the Floridians here that is why nobody is in the water!

Thank you so much C for inviting us to the Cheeca! It was spectacular!

Her fiance’ is the owner of this magical resort, ( the gal that is driving), and both of them work hard to make this destination memorable!

Many couples say their “I do’s” here.

Is this entrance to the lagoon not romantic? I could feel myself slipping into a trance because of all the imaginary drums!

I love how the torches are reflected in the water. Simply magical! Even at night, the water in the lagoon still has a shimmering turquoise color!

This is one of the older buildings. These old portraits are displayed in the lobby.

President Bush with his grandson, Jeb jr., participated in a Bonefish tournament at the old Cheeca years ago.

The day that we arrived in Ft. Lauderdale, it started raining so hard causing massive floods! This picture was taken in the parking lot of a supermarket in North Miami Beach.

I trust that everyone had a fantastic New year’s eve! We were in Florida for two and a half weeks, including New Year’s Day, just hanging out with family and friends! I am always so very busy baking cookies, making homemade sausage and soaps right up to the very day we have to leave for Florida. I think that they all just look forward to all these goodies, when I visit them once a year.

I do have a couple of ” THANK- YOUS”….. toPom Wonderful for the delicious juices that they mailed to me last year June, ( hope you received my correspondence at that time) and Jo, ( my blogger buddy), for the exquisite china and her homegrown garlic. Jo, you know that I shall be displaying my creations on them and on the blog, I love them!

Here are two recipes I developed with that PERSNICKETY, PERFECT POM WONDERFUL!

I could hardly wait to taste this delicious libation, after taking its picture! I loved it when the lemony coconut ice just barely melted into that sea of magenta heaven! Tasting that deliciously tart natural pomegranate powder on the rim of the glass and the lemony ” creme ” in the beginning and then suddenly the fruity Pom Wonderful juice thereafter, were so inexplicably satisfying! YUM!

These coconut creme caramels were just much more creamier and silkier made with a combination of coconut cream and organic evaporated milk rather than using condensed milk. I made the caramel with the Pom Wonderful juice, instead of water and in so doing imparted a delectable and playful element of tartness cutting through the richness of the creamy custards!